Agar Agar

Nutrient agar is used throughout the world to provide a solid surface containing medium for the growth of bacteria and fungi. Agar is typically sold commercially as a powder that can be mixed with water and prepared similarly to gelatin before use as a growth medium. The basic agar formula can be used to grow most of the microbes whose needs are known. More specific nutrient agars are available, because some microbes prefer certain environmental conditions over others.